Motor-control system



June 2, 1925.

s. B. scHENcK Moron CONTROL SYSTEM Filed June 5, 1921 Over-land RelayINVENTOR mum fiziizwefi). 50/102262".

WEN ESSES:

C jW/wm/ ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1925 UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

SAMUEL B. SCHENCK, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, A'SSIGNOR TO WESTING-HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYIr VANIA.

Application filed June 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. SCIIENCK,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edge-wood Park, in thecounty of Al- 5 legheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Motor-Control Systems, of which the followingvis a specification.

My invention relates to motor-control systerns and its has particularrelation to control systems that are .employed to govern the operationof a plurality of motors that drive a railway vehicle. i

One object of my invention is to provide acontrol 'systenr that shall berelatively simple and economical in construction and positive andeffective in operation.

Another object of my invention is to energize the actuating coils of aplurality of contactors or switches that govern the operation of a maincontroller or sequence switch, from the same source of energy thatfurnishes power to a plurality of motors.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a control system inwhich the progressive and the multiplerelays, formerly employed forgoverninga plurality of contactors to change the connections of themotors from series relation toparallel relation, are omitted althoughthe same operating characteristics are secured.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a specialinterlocking arrangement for a plurality of line switches that havetheir actuating coils energized by a single wire. i

Heretofore, in some cases, the main controller of a control system hasbeen actuated by a motorwhich was sodesigned as to be energized directlyfrom the same source of energy as the main motors; or the maincontroller has been omitted and the sequence oi? operation ofthecontactorshas been secured by mutual electrical interlocking and by a'plurality'of relays, the actuating coils of the contactors and relaysbeing energized from the same source of energy that energizes the mainmotors.

I Briefly speaking, my invention consists, in one aspect, in governingthe operation of a main controller by electrical energy that is'supplied from a trolley through a plurality of resistors and a mastercontroller and omit- MOTOR-CONTROL SYSTEM.

1921. Serial No. 474,721.

ting the customary progressive and multiple relays My invention alsoconsists in securing the operation of a plurality of line switches orcircuit-breakers that have their actuating coils energized by a singlecircuit and in having the circuit breakers close sequentially trollerFor pior to the time that the main conleaves a predetermined position. abetter understanding of my inven- Fig order emplo 2 is a sequence chartshowing the of closure of a plurality of contactors ved to govern thecontrol system shown in Fig. l; and

Fig.

3 is a diagrammatic view of the secondary or auxiliary circuits thatgovern the op trated Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the eration ofthe contactors that are illusin Fig. 1.

drawing, a pluralityiof motors 1 and 2, respectively havingarmatures 3and 4 and series be one field-magnet windings; 5 and 6, may rgized uponthe closure of one. or both of a plurality of line switches orcircuitlished breakers 7 and 8 by a circuit that is estabfrom a suitablesource of energy, such as a trolley wire9, through the trolley-pole 11and the contact members of the circuitbreakers 7 and 8.

lurality of starting resistors 12, 13 and 14 are employed to govern thecurrent traversin tactor g the motors 1 and 2. A series con- 15 isemployed for connecting the motors 1 and 2 in series relation. Aplurality of emplo accelerating contactors 16 and 17 are yed forshunting portions of the starting resistor 12, and correspondingcontactors 18 and 19 are employed for shunting p'ortions of the secondstarting resistor-13.

A second series or transition contactor 21 is employed for maintaining aseries connection of the motors 1 and 2 while the transition from seriesto parallel relation is being groun nectin t1on.

effected. -Parallel contactor 22 and d contactor 23 are employed forcong the motors 1 and 2 in parallel relav energization of the actuatingcoils of the contactors to 19, inclusive, and 21 to 25,

inclusive, that are illustrated in Fig. 1. The.

controller has a plurality of operating positions a: to 2', inclusive.

The operation of the main controller 32 is governed by a mastercontroller 33 having a central oft posit-ion, a plurality of forwardoperation positions a, b, 0 and d and a plurality of reverse operatingpositions :0 and 1 V The reversing switches 27 form a part of a mainreverser 3%. The main reverser 3H1 is provided with a pin *a'lity ofcontact segments 35 and 36 and a plurality of contact fingers and isactuated in a forward and in a reverse direction by a plurality of coils30 2111( 300a, respectively.

The main controller 32 is actuated by an electro-pneumatic engine 37,which is provided with an on valve 38 and an 01f valve 39. The engine 37comprises a plurality of cylinders 41 and in which are movably mountedpistons 13 and 4%, respectively, which are mechanically connectedtogether by means of a rack member as.

The rack member 15 actuates a pinion 46 that is mounted upon a shaft 17,upon wl1ich the main controller is also mounted. Under normalconditions, when both actuating coils of the valve mechanism 38 and 39are tie-energized, the rack member 45, by reason of the presence offluid pressure in cylinder 42 only, is biased to the off position, whichis the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

\Vhen both the actuat ng coils of the valve mechanism 38 and 39 areenergized, fluid is supplied from the inlet port 51 of the valvemechanism 18 to the cylinder 41, thereby applying pressure to the piston43, while the fluid within the other cylinder 42 is emitted through theexhaust port 52 of the valve mechanism 39. In this way, the pressureupon the piston 1- 1, is reduced to permit the rack member to actuatethe pinion 16' and shaft 17, thereby causing the main controller 32 torotate in a forward direction.

\Vhen the actuating coil of the valve mechanism 38 is energized and theactuating coil of the valve mechanism'39 is de energized, fluid pressureis applied equally to the )istons $3 and 44 causing the rack member 45to stop at whatever position it mayat the time occupy.

Upon the de-energizati0n of both the actuating coils of the valvemechanism 38 and 39, fluid pressure is supplied through the inlet port18 of the valve mechanism 39 to the cylinder %2, thereby actuating thepiston ll to the oil position, as the inlet port 51 of the valvemechanism 38 is'closed and the exhaust port 39 is opened, therebypermitting fluid from the cylinder 4t1 to be exhausted.

The operation of my control system is begun by actuating the mastercontroller 33 from the oil position to position a, thereby establishinga circuit from the trolley wire 9 through control linger 53, contactsegment 54:, control fingers 64: and (55, contact segment 66, controlfingers 67 and (37a, contact segment '70 and control finger 55 of themaster controller 33, control resistor 56, contact terminal 57 of themain reverscr 3%, contact segment 35, contact finger 58, and theactuating coil of: the line relay .)9 to Ground. However, as the masterreverser 3% already occupies its forward position, the forward actuatingcoil '30 will not be energized.

Upon the closure of the line relay 59, a circuit is established from thetrolley a through control resistor (31, contact members of line relay59, actuating coil of line switch or circuit-breaker 7, interlock 15-out and drum interlock 39F to Ground.

Upon the closure of the line switch or circuit breaker 7, a circuit isestablished from the trolley 9 through control linger 53, contactsegment 54, control lingers 6'1 and 65, contact segment'GG and controltinger 67 of the master controller 33, a portion of the control resistor68, tap 69 of the control resistor, interlock 7in, contact terminals 71and 72 of the main controller 32, whiclrare bridged by contact segment73,

interlocks Q:2out and 21out and the actuating coil of the coutactor 1 5to Ground.

lVhen the line switch 7 and the contactor 15 are closed, a main circuitis established from the trolley 9 through the contact members ofcircuit-breaker 7, starting resistor 14, reversing switch 27, armature 3and se ries field-magnet winding 5 of the motor 1. starting resistor 12,series contactor 15. starting resistor 1", series fieldanaguct winding6, armature t of the motor 2, re versing switch 27 and the actuatingcoil of the overload relay 81 to Ground.

The motors 1 and 2- operate at their low est speed, as they areconnected in series relation and the starting resistors 12, 13 and 141are in circuit therewith.

As soon as the line switch 7 has closed, a circuit is established fromthe. actuating coil of the line switch 7 through the actuating coil ofthe line switch 8 and interlocks 7-in and 32-a to Ground. The lineswitch 8 will assume itsclosed' position as soon as thecircuit thatshunts its actuating coil is broken by theinterlock 15-0utopening'whenthe contactor 15 assumes its closed position, a I

To further accelerate the motors 1 and 2, it is necessary that themaster controller 33 be actuated to its second position 6, therebyestablishing a circuit from trolley ,9 through control finger 53 of themaster controller 33, contact segment 54', control fingers ($4 and 65,contact segment 66, control linger 75, a portion of control resistor 76,interlock 15-111, control lingers 77 and 1 78, which are-bridged by thecontact segment 79 of the main controller 32, overload relay 81, theactuating coil of the off valve mechanism 39 and interlock 8in toGround. F i I The actuating valve of the on valve mechanism 38 isenergized after the closure of the line switch 7 by a circuit from thetap-point 69 of the control resistor 68 through interloclc'I-in andactuating coil of the on? valve 38 to Ground. Upon the concurrentenergization of the actuating coils of the valve mechanism 38 and 39,air pressure is applied to the piston 43 and is released from the piston44, thereby actuating the rack member .45 of the off valve mechanism, tocause the main controller 32 to be actuated to position I).

Then the main controller 32 is moved from position a, the interlock 32a,which governs the energization of the line switch 3, is opened, therebypreventing the shunt circuit comprising the actuating'coil of the lineswitch 7 and interlock 15 out from be ing rccstablished if thecircuit-breakers 7 and 8 are opened, until the main controller 32 hasbeen returned to position a;

W hen the main controller 32 occupies position Z}, a circuit isestablished from the tap-point 69 of the control resistor 68, throughinterlock 7-in, control finger 71 of the main'controller 32,-eontactsegment 73, control finger 82, and actuating-coil of the contactor 16,to tap-point 83 of control resistor (i8.

3 Upon the closure of the line switch 8 and i the accelerating contactor16, the starting 79, whereby the circuit comprising the actuating coilof the off valve mechanism 39 is broken.

When the actuating coil of the off valve mechanism is de-energized,fluid pressureis applied to the piston 44 to a sufficient degree tobalance the pressure upon the piston 43, thereby preventing furthermovement of the rack member 45 to cause the main controller 32 to remainin position a.

In position 6, lineswitches 7 and 8 contactors 15, 17 and 19 are closed,thereby establishing a circuit from the trolley 9 through line switch orcircuit-breaker 8, reversing switch 27, armature 3, series field"i'nagnet winding 5 of the motor 1, contactors 17, 15 and 19, seriesfield-magnet winding 6, armature 4 of the motor 2, reversing switch 27and actuating coil of the overload relay 81 to Ground.

The motors 1 and 2 are now operating in series relation with theaccelerating resistors 12, 13 and 14 shunted.

1 Before the main controller 32 will continue its forward movement, itis necessary to actuate the master controller 33 to position 0. Inposition 0, a circuit is established from the trolley 9 through controlfinger 53 of the master controller 33, ontact segment 54, controlfingers 64 and 86, contactsegment 87, control finger 88, auxiliarycontrol resistor 89, control finger 91 of the main controller 32,contact segment 79, control finger 78, contact members of the overloadrelay 81, actuating coil of the off valve mechanism 39 and interlock 8intoGround. The main controller 32 will be actuated by theelectropneumatic engine 37 to position 7', in which position contactterminal 91 no longer engages contact segment 79, thus de-energizing theactuating coil of the off valve 39.

During the passage of the main controller 32 through the transitionposition between positions 6 andf, a circuit is established fromtl1e-tappoint 69of'the auxiliary control resistor 68, through interlock7in controlfinger 92 of the main controller 32, contact segment 93,control finger 94, interlock 23out and the actuating coil of thetransition contactor 21 to Ground.

\Vhen the main controller 32 is actuated to position f, contact segment93 no longer engages control fingers 92 and 84, thus breaking thecircuit comprising the actuating coil of the contactor 21. Aftertheclosure of the transition contactor 21. further movement of the maincontroller 32 disengages control fingers S5 and 85a, of the maincontroller from the contact segment 73 and the actuating coils of thecontactors 17 and 19 are de-energized, thus permitting these contactorsto assume their open positions. I

After the series cont-actor 15 assumes its open position, the Groundcontactor. 23 and closed, thereby connecting the motors 1 and 2 inparallel relation; the starting resistors 12 and 123 being in seriesrelation, respectively, with the motors 1 and 2. I

To further increase the speed-ct the motors, it is necessary that themaster controller 33 be actuated to position (Z, thereby es tablisliinga circuit from the trolley 9 through control finger contact segment 5st,control fingers (31 and 65, contact segment 66, control fingers l5,auxiliaiy control resistor 76, interlock 23-in, control finger T7 ofthe. main controller 32, contact segment 79, control finger 7S,actuating coil of the off valveinechanism S9 and interlock 8in toGround.

The main controller 32 will thereupon be actuated through positions gand h to position i. At position 9, contact segment 73 engages contactterminals 82 and 84:, thereby energizing the actuating coils of theaccelerating contactors 16 and 18 and thus shunting portions of thestarting resistors 12 and 13, respectively.

In position h, contact segment 73 engages contact terminals 85 and 85a,thereby energizing the actuating coils of accelerating contactors 17 and19, thus completely shunting the starting resistors 12 and 13.

The motors 1 and 2 further accelerated upon the main controller 32 beingactuated to position 2', as the contact segment 73 of main controller32engages contact terminal 95, thereby establishing a circuit fromtappoint 83 of control resistor 68 through the parallel-connectedactuating coils of the field contactors 24C and 25, control finger 95,contact segment 73, control finger '71 and iiiterlock 7-in to tap'point69 ot the control resistor 68.

Upon the closure of the field cont-actors 24 and 25, portionsof theseries field-magnetwindings 5 and 6, respectively, are shunted, therebyincreasing the speed of the corresponding motors 1 and 2. An auxiliaryresister 96 is connected in shunt relation to the actuating coils of thecontactors 1519, in: elusive. and 21 to 25, inclusive, to providedischarge circuits for actuating coils and to ensure the opening of thecontactors after the line switches 7 and 8, thereby preventing theimpairment of thecontactors because of arcing.

It will be noted that during the acceleration of the motors 1 and 2 bymeans of the master controller 33 and theinain controller 32, noprogressive or multiplerelays are employedand that the energization ofthe actuating coils of the contactors that govern the control system andthe actuating coils of the electro-pnenmatic engine 27 is efi'ected byconnectingt-he actuating coils in circuit with a plurality of auxil aryJ'GSlStOlS and the inaste r controller to the source of electricalenergy 9.

It will also be noted that closure 01 the line switches-0rcircuit-breakers 7 and S is effected in sequence from a single wire andprior to the master controller 32 being actuated from its firstposition.

Il'hile I have shown my invention in a preferred form, it is apparentthat minor modifications may be made in the arrangement of circuits andthe apparatus employed 1% without departing from the spirit of myiiivcntion. I desire, therefore, to beliinited only by the scope of theappendedclaims.

I claim as my invention: I

1. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of switcheshaving actuating coils, said coils being connected in series relationone with another, of a resistor adapted to be shunted by the concurrentclosure of said switches and means com prising a controller forproviding a shunt circuit for one of said coils for maintainingone ofsaid switches in its open position to temporarily prevent the shuntingof said resistor.

2. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of switcheshaving actuating coils, said coils being connected in series relationone with another, of means comprising a controller for providing a shuntcircuit for one of said coils for maintaining one of said switches inits open position until after the closure of another of said switchesand interlocking means governed by one switch for closing acircuitcomprising the actuating coils of each ct said switches.

-3. Ina control system, the combination with a plurality of switcheshaving actuating coils, said coils being connected in series 1 relationone with another, of means coinprising'a controller having a pluralityof positions for shunting one of said coils, said shunting means beingoperative only upon said controller occupying a predetcrniinei'lposition.

1. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of switcheshaving actuating coils, the coils ottwo of said switches being connectedin series relation one with another, of means comprising a controllerhaving a plurality of positions for shunting one of said coils, saidshunting means being inoperative upon said controller occupying apredetermined position, and interall - simultaneous locking meansgoverned by a third switch for partly closing the shunt circuit aroundsaid one coil.

5. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of switcheshaving actuating coils, said coils bein connected in series relation onewith anot er, of means comprising an interlocking device governed by oneof said switches and a controller having a plurality of positions forshunting one of said coils during a portion of the time that saidcontroller occupies a predetermined position.

6. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of switcheshaving actuating coils, said coils being connected in series relationone with another, of means comprising an interlocking device governed byone of said switches for preventing the closure of said switches, meanscomprising a controller having a plurality of positions for shunting oneof said coils to maintain one of said switches in its open position andmeans comprising a contactor having an interlock for rendering saidshunting means inoperative upon said contactor assuming a predeterminedposition.

7. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of switcheshaving actuating coils, said coils being connected in series relationone with another, of means comprising an interlocking device governed byone of said switches for preventing the simultaneous closure of saidswitches, means comprising a controller having a plurality of positionsfor shunting one of said coils to maintain one of said switches in itsopen position and means comprising a contactor having an interlock forrendering said shunting means inoperative prior to said controller beingactuated from its off position.

8. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of lineswitches having actuating coils, said coils being connected in seriesrelation one with another, of a master controller, means comprising arelay governed by said controller for energizing one of said actuatingcoils, means for shunting the actuating coils of one of said switchescomprising a main controller governed by said master controller forpreventing said line switches from closing simul taneously, and meanscomprising a contactor having an interlock for rendering said shuntingmeans inoperative upon said contactor assuming a predetermined position.

9. In a control system, the combination with a plurality ofdynamo-electric ma chines and a line switch, of means comprising aplurality of contactors having actuating coils for connecting said1nachines in different relations and for varying the voltage of saidmachines, a source of electrical energy for said machines, a maincontroller for governing the energization of the actuating coils of saidcontactors, means comprising an electrical device having a plurality ofactuating coils for operating said main controller, a master controllerfor governing the energization of said device and the closure of saidline switch, and means comprising a plurality of resistors, two of whichare alternately employed for changing the voltage of the electricalenergy supplied from said source to one coil of said device.

10. In a control system, the combination with a plurality of motors anda source of electrical energy for said motors, of a plurality ofcontactors having actuating coils for connecting said motors in series,in transitional and in parallel relation, a main controller forgoverning the energization of said actuating coils, an electrical devicehaving a plurality of actuating coils for effecting the actuation ofsaid main controller, means comprising a master controller for governingthe energization of said device, and means comprising a plurality ofresistors for respectively reducing the voltage of the energy suppliedto one of the actuating coils of said device during the transitional andthe other relations of said motors.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th dayof May, 1921.

SAMUEL B. SCHENGK.

